The Impact of Changes in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index by Body Region on Quality of Life in Patients with Psoriasis.

Psoriasis severity varies by body region, with each affected region having a different impact on patient quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of changes in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores by body region on QoL in patients with psoriasis after treatment. A total of 100 patients with psoriasis were recruited to the study. All patients completed the generic EuroQol-5D instrument and two specific QoL measures, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI) at the beginning of the study, and 50 patients successfully completed the same questionnaires four weeks after the end of the treatment. Clinical severity was assessed using PASI total score and PASI body region (head, trunk, arms, and legs) scores. QoL improved after treatment, and PASI improvements on visible body regions (head, legs, and arms) showed significant correlation with the most sub-areas of the Visual Analog Scale (EQ VAS), DLQI, and PDI. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that PASI improvement (particularly on the head), sex, age, and disease duration were predictors of QoL score changes for most domains of the three instruments. Improvement of psoriasis in visible body regions has an appreciable influence on QoL improvement, and may positively affect treatment success in patients with psoriasis.

Predictors of Depression Problems of Adults Who Live in the Security Endangered Territory.

INTRODUCTION: By the year 2020, if current trends for demographic and epidemiological transition continue, the burden of depression will have increased to 5.7% of the total burden of disease, thus becoming the second leading cause of disability-adjusted life year (DALY) lost. Early detection of people at risk of developing any mental disorder is extremely important in the prevention of all mental disorders. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine depression predictors among adult residents in four Kosovo and Metohia municipalities predominantly inhabited by Serbian population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included the representative sample of adults in Leposavic, North Kosovska Mitrovica, Gnjilane and Pristina and was performed in October/November of 2009. The sample was selected from the list of citizens older than 18, received in the above mentioned municipalities. The Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used as a research instrument. The methods of statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, simple and multiple logistic regression analysis, and analysis of variance, with a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: Problems with depression have been significantly associated with female sex (OR=2.24), older age (OR=1.01), lower levels of education (OR=0.50), unemployment (OR=1.09), poor financial situation (OR=0.45), abuse (OR=0.08) and assessment of the future political and security situation as a highly risky one (OR=3.01). CONCLUSION: To determine risk groups being in greater risk to suffer from depression is important for planning, enhancing, promoting and implementing the prevention strategies for this disease.

[Health state of the citizens of northern Kosovska Mitrovica].

INTRODUCTION: For health assessment, beside the data of routine health statistics, it is necessary to include and data obtained by a health survey of the citizens. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to establish how northern Kosovska Mitrovica adults assess their health and which diseases are most common among the population, as well as to investigate differences in relation to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, the characteristics of social interaction and health behaviour and habits. METHODS: The research was conducted as a cross-sectional study conducted on the representative sample of adult citizens in northern Kosovska Mitrovica in 2006. Two hundred-eighteen respondents were included in the survey. In the research we used a questionnaire identical to the Health Survey conducted in Serbia in 2006. The significance of differences in responses about self-rated health and chronic diseases in relation to the characteristics of respondents' responses were determined by chi2-test with the significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: Over half of the respondents (54.7%) assessed their health condition as good or very good. There was a significant difference in self-rated health in relation to the respondents' age (chi2 = 202.036; p = 0.000), education (chi2 = 72.412; p = 0.000), social support (chi2 = 12.416; p = 0.015), smoking (chi2 = 11.675; p = 0.020) and physical activity (chi2 = 61.842; p = 0.000). The leading health problems among the respondents were high blood pressure, rheumatologic diseases of joints, ulcer of the duodenal or gastric ulcer, gall bladder disease and high blood fat. CONCLUSION: Adult residents of northern Kosovska Mitrovica assessed their health as better than the residents of Serbia without Kosovo and Metohia. The diseases in which stress plays the major role among etiological factors are in the leading position. The obtained data on the population level of specific areas represent the basis in the planning of health education and health promotion activities.